Head, Heart and Hand: Elbert Hubbard and The Roycrofters

This film encompasses the history and philosophy of Elbert Hubbard's turn-of-the-century "Arts and Crafts" movement. Roycroft was a handicraft community founded by Elbert Hubbard in 1895 in East Aurora, New York. The movement grew from his private press, the Roycroft Press, which was inspired by William Morris’s Kelmscott Press.

The community flourished and was at its peak in 1910 with over 500 workers. By 1915, Hubbard and the Roycrofters (as the workers were known) had achieved great success. In addition to the inspirational pamphlet, A Message to Garcia, with an estimated printing of 40 million copies, Hubbard was also publishing monthly magazines, The Fra and The Philistine.

The Roycrofters were also skilled metalsmiths, leathersmiths, and bookbinders. They produced handsome books, and operated a fine bindery, a furniture shop, and shops producing modeled leather and hammered copper goods. They were a leading producer of Mission Style products.

In 1938, the Roycrofters closed shop. Today, items produced by the Roycrofters are highly sought after by collectors and are admired for their inherent beauty and craftsmanship.